25 Feb 2008English managers 'start too early'

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier believes English footballers are rushed too quickly into management.

According to the Frenchman, who guided the Anfield club to six trophies - two League Cups, an FA Cup, Uefa Cup, Uefa Super Cup and a Charity Shield - during his five-year tenure, prospective managers in France have to wait a lot longer to earn their spurs.

As a result, they have the time to gain the skills necessary to become managers rather than being thrust in at the deep end unprepared.

"In France, you cannot become a manager when you step out of your career as a player," Houllier told Inside Sport.

"Would a manager of a big company put somebody without experience into a key position in his company? No, he would not, but they do in football."

Houllier believes the skills set required to become a top manager is fundamentally different to that needed to be a top player.

"As a player, you think of yourself and your career," he said. "The manager has the vision of the club [to deal with] and has got to think of a strategy."

He made specific references to Bryan Robson, Stuart Pearce and Gareth Southgate as people who have taken on too much, too soon.

© Copyright